The sun had shifted again, dipping lower behind the trees. The Hollowfang's body had long stopped steaming, and the church behind them stood quiet, still pulsing with that strange, protective energy.
The group didn't move far.
They made camp near the steps, not ready to go back inside — not ready to move on, either. For the first time in what felt like forever, the entire group was back together. Whole.
And yet…
None of them felt at peace.
⸻
Braydon sat on a fallen log, staring at the edge of the woods. His katana rested across his knees, the blade still faintly humming from the final blow.
Shoto walked over and lowered himself beside him.
"You good?" he asked quietly.
Braydon gave a short nod. "Getting there."
There was a pause.
Then Shoto added, "I meant it. I thought we lost you."
Braydon glanced sideways. "Same. But I kept moving. Knew I had to."
⸻
Behind them, Elizabeth sat beside KJ, quietly checking the bandage on his arm.
"I'm fine," he said.
She didn't look up. "You always say that."
He stayed quiet.
Then said, "So… we're all here now."
She gave a small nod.
KJ looked across the group, then narrowed his eyes.
"Almost forgot to ask… Braydon."
The others turned.
Braydon looked up.
KJ stood now, arms crossed. "Did you… wake up too?"
Shoto blinked. "You mean—"
"In the real world," KJ clarified. "At Shoto's house. Like nothing happened."
Everyone fell quiet.
Elizabeth turned toward Braydon. "We all woke up there. It was real. For a day. Then… we came back. Same church."
Braydon didn't answer right away.
Then he shook his head slowly.
"No," he said. "I didn't wake up anywhere. I was here. The whole time."
⸻
A ripple of unease passed through the group.
"Not even a glimpse?" Brandon asked. "A flicker, a dream?"
"Nothing," Braydon said. "I was in the fog. Surviving."
Pate frowned. "So why just us?"
No one answered.
Gage muttered under his breath, "Man, this world keeps getting creepier."
⸻
Elizabeth reached for the journal.
It hadn't moved since they returned. But when she opened it, a new line had appeared — faint, as if burned into the page instead of written.
"Some don't leave because they were never meant to."
⸻
The group stared at it in silence.
Braydon's eyes narrowed.
And somewhere, in the distance, thunder rumbled — but there were no clouds in the sky.